Above is the Steiner Ranch Steakhouse. Occasionally I join the Austin Cycling Meetup group for their ride on the last Sunday of the month. The ride is sponsored by Jack and Adam's Bike shop, and several other clubs join in. Often there are over 100 riders, so it's easy to find cyclists of your ability - whatever that is. The route is a out-and-back of just over 30 miles if you include the monster hill at the turn-around point. Always nice to have the option of turning around if you want, although I have never been able to resist the challenge of climbing it. I just stick it in the lowest gear I have and spin it out.
Sunday I was feeling a little sore in the right hamstring, so I opted out of the Lifetime Cycling Club ride that was set to climb Lime Creek Road. I decided to ride with the intermediate group on the Steiner ride, and had one of my best rides ever. I felt strong, the hammie never acted up, and I just kept going faster until I was leading the intermediate group at the turnaround point. Not racing, just riding the pace that felt best. Some days you have it, some days you don't....but that day I had it. One guy blew past me climbing the big hill, but I was expecting that. The lighter guys can out climb me pretty easily, I envy those guys sometimes!
On the ride back to the steakhouse, I just felt stronger and stronger and pulled a big group of riders into a headwind. I block wind well, and I like to help other riders. Some people really suffer on hills, some suffer in the wind. Every ride has one or the other, often both here in Central Texas. I averaged 17.0 mph, much more than my normal 15-16 mph. That one mph average increase takes a LOT of work!
A long soak in the hot tub at LifeTime (I must sound like a commercial for them but I love my club!) and I was good for the day.
Watched some college football, did laundry and some cleaning.
Still bummed about missing Pan-Am, I'll try to find it online. I watched about 5 minutes of "Revenge" and it really did not do anything for me. After Mad Men, it will take something to hook me into watching a new show. So many of the ones I loved were cancelled (Lie to Me, etc) that it's hard to make an investment. That, and I don't have much time for TV between work, sleep, working out, and my Facebook addiction!
